How to Save an Overwatered Plant

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Surprisingly, overwatering plants may be more common than underwatering. Most amateur gardeners err on the side of caution and water their plants too often. Supplying too much water actually downs the plant because it can’t exchange gasses, including oxygen or absorb nutrients. The good news is that you can usually fix this problem. Assess the damage in your plants, and then use these tricks to revive it.

Look at the bottom of the pot. If there aren’t any drainage holes, then it is very likely that the plant is suffering from overwatering, since the excess water just sits in the pot, drowning the roots. You will need to get a new, well-drained pot to save it.

Place the plant outside of a pot for several hours or a half a day before repotting. Placing it on top of a wire mesh baking rack will allow air to dry out the roots for a while. Note if the roots are brown. Healthy roots should be white.

Decide whether any of the roots are actively rotting. If they are starting to smell and decompose into a compost-like material, you will need to prune them away before repotting. Only prune what is definitely diseased and/or rotting.[2]

Community Q&A

You could try increasing the light (not to the point it burns/too bright for it) or switching the soil or adding plant minerals to replenish it. Don't water your plant for a day or two, but keep a close eye on it.

My succulent had bowed over. I removed the wet leaves from around the roots, can I save the plant?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Succulents are very resistant to high levels of stress. If the root system begins to rot, cut off a clipping at an angle and transplant it into wet fertilized soil. If you have plant hormone, you can dip the clipping into it before replanting as well. It should regrow as big as before!

Flush your plant really well with water. If they're in the ground, lay your water hose over the base of the plant and let it slowly run for an hour or so. The only way to save plants from any type of over-fertilizing is to flush them with water. If you threw down granular fertilizer, another option is to dig some of the dirt out and flush with water.

Purchase a moisture meter online or at a home improvement store if you have regular problems with overwatering. Insert the probe into the soil and it will tell you how dry the soil is. Water only when the reading indicates you should water the soil.

To save an overwatered plant, start by moving it out of the sun and into a shady spot. Then, carefully remove the plant from its pot and place it on top of a baking rack for several hours so the roots can dry. If any of the roots are brown or smell like they're rotting, prune them off. Once the roots are dry and you've pruned off the rotting ones, repot the plant in a pot with drainage holes and wait until the top of the soil is dry before lightly watering it.

Reader Success Stories

EL

E. L.

Dec 21, 2018

"I've leaned to love our plants. They're family to us, just like having any kind of pet. "

MT

M. T.

Mar 20, 2017

"I gave in and bought house plants at a spring sale. Of course, I immediately sought to stop the leaking and used paper towels to soak up extra water, which I guess caused a drainage issue. I was not raised with live plants, so I didn't know they could drown. But I think we can get on track now that we know."..." more